FAQs for Referring New Patients

There are three ways you can refer your patient to Seattle Children's clinics.

• Fax: Fill out the New Appointment Request Form (PDF) (DOC).
  • Fax the NARF and any additional chart notes or relevant documentation to 206-985-3121 or 866-985-3121 (toll-free).
• Online: Use EpicCare Link, an alternate online method for submitting referrals and tracking referral status.
• Phone: You may also refer by phone at 206-987-2080, option 1.

If you have a need for an urgent consultation, call our Provider-to-Provider Line at 206-987-7777 and indicate this is an urgent call. You will be able to speak with the physician on call who will help you with any service needed.

Download the New Appointment Request Form (PDF) (DOC).

The purpose of this form is to streamline the process of scheduling patients into Seattle Children's specialty clinics and gathering information necessary to schedule the appointment.

Our goal is to maximize the efficiency of scheduling new patient appointments and to coordinate care with primary care and other referring physicians.

We try to do this by gathering the clinical information needed to schedule an appointment promptly and appropriately as early in the referral process as possible.

The NARF also makes it easier for the Seattle Children's scheduler and the family to communicate during the appointment-making process.

Yes. This form is appropriate to use for all Seattle Children's specialty clinics.

You may use your own office referral form as long as it contains the same information as the NARF. However, we believe that appointments will be scheduled more quickly and with less hassle for your office, your patients and for Children's if this form is used.

Or you may call in the referral to 206-987-2080 or, toll-free, 866-987-2000, ext. 72080.

No. This form's intent is to streamline the new patient intake and triage. Please continue to call the clinic directly for return appointments. Phone numbers for each service can be found via the links on All Clinics and Programs (A to Z).

Yes, for those patients whose healthcare plans require it. Insurance referral authorization is a separate process that requires the use of the individual health care plan's authorization forms, so you will still need to fax those to Seattle Children's Insurance Processing Department's central fax number at 206-987-FAXS (3297).

Yes, fax that along with the NARF. We use that information to help ensure appropriate scheduling, and the schedulers make it available for the patient's visit. It also helps in coordinating care between you and Seattle Children's physicians.

Yes, please send any relevant imaging prior to the patient’s appointment. We encourage you to use PowerShare. An acceptable alternative is to mail a disk directly to the specialty clinic your patient is visiting, or ask your patient to bring the disk with them to their appointment.  

You can list all of the clinics on the same NARF. Be sure and include the relevant clinical information for each specialty clinic.

No. It is a dedicated line and will only go to the scheduling staff.

Once we receive the completed referral, the family should call the clinic directly to schedule an appointment. Generally they can call after one business day from the time the referral was sent.

To reach the clinic the family may call Seattle Children's at 206-987-2000, or, toll-free, 866-987-2000, and ask for the specific specialty clinic's scheduling line.

If the family doesn't call after 2 weeks, you will be notified if your patient has not been scheduled.

We are continuously evaluating and seeking to improve the NARF. Please send your comments and suggestions to Meagan Solis.

You can download the NARF (PDF, DOC) or duplicate the form yourself in your office. If you would like us to fax a blank copy to you, please call our Clinical Intake office at 206-987-2080.